New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-10
.prDERICK DOUGLASS 10 VOTERS.
RINGING REPUBLICAN APPEAL.

VOTERS =, ., "a, ,,.u,,
-, St,,e Committee to speak for the Republican
10 ana candidates in New-York State during
90 campaicn his uncertain health compeis nun
- aocIine. but in the follow ing letter be makes the
80, of all good citizens and particularly Ihe
colored voters very cleaI.
MR. DOUGLASS LETTER
CEDAR HILL ANAcosah ;s -: e.
-. SIR: very deeply regret that. owing 10 the
unsteady condition Of my health am coInpeneu
aocline your urgent call 10 take the platform ourhS
lent campaign in support Of the Republican cause
so state Of NewYork Were 1t otherwise therc Is no
- -. -. to which would more readily respond
,o sometimes reproached with being 100 much
..aoa TO the Republican party, am not ashamed OF
we.'. ,roach In my own behalf and in behalf Of the
,a neople generally confess myself largely IN aep'
, Marty and especially to that part OF IL 1or winch
~ ,o,, ask my earnest and active support III was tno
ys,;can marty OF the State OF New-iork which, hrst
al the Northern States. had the courage ana the con-
y, - 70 mt the name OF a colored man In proni
,.s on its electoral ticket, and 1t was the Elec-
college, of that State that honorcd me by sending In
i:s electoral vote for Ulysses e Grant 10 the
-, nt Of the Senate Of the United States at Washins
49,. shall have to forget this noble example OF den-
oe 10 popular prejudice. and many other good thhgs
go hv that party, and the other hand must cease
a
1T before can withhold my support from the former
and cease TO oppose the latter.
Though cannot at present safely promise 70 take INC
stump as would gladly do. can and will earnestly a
wise every citizen Of the State OF New YORK as
Ma values the rights and privileges aready secured ana
those he has yet realize support by his voice anu
xo,e and with all his ght the New York state Repno
can ticket and the whole Republican ticket without the
srssue Of single name. do this and shall do this Dc
the tremendous lot goou
and for evil involved in the approaching New A"fA oo
election In my Judgment no political roiiy eo"iu 10
greater or to be dcpiored than pursuing course
lending TO endanger the Of the Republican party
,ts Grand preliminary fight for ascendency in New
Work and ultimately in the Nation. He Is 1901 VINO
sncnds his strength brushing away notes wheh u
heavy beam is suspended over him ana may crush MS
Mad When man is strong enough to stand squarely
rnop Republican platform and has been iaifl! nohn-
rated by the Republican party, require something more
than doubtful of what he may have been weak
enough to say dozen years prior to his nomination. 10
move ne from his support There no question mat
whatever may have been the faults and SHORTCOMINGS o
The Republican party. il has been hrs' ahc last "i
Marty OF Justice, liberty and progress III Is "'so p"
h. IN whatever the Democratic party has yet doae IN
the same direction. II has derived Its inspiration '''n'
the EXAMPLE set by the Republican party It, In fact
h. worn when II has anything tolerably decent
h old shoes and secondhand clothing OF the Repup-
can party OF course am glad 10 nave the peno.'"'
Marty follow the Republican, even IN inc rAsgou ""
wornout garments with which II now aud theh covers
itself But that party is altogether too SLOW Oh ioo ~
heavily buriened with its ugly record ana the oohu
sou,b 70 be safel7 trusted lead in the cause OF oe
,plrbtepmen and progress 1t Is bad enough to have
that Marty hanging on TO the skirts OF the Repn"eah
marty doing its best TO hinder and dragged iorwau
by 1t, IT Is far more mschievous 10 thrust " III oH
where II can block the way Of the Republican party
Its matter OF deep surprise and regret that once IN
while we find coored man in Northern state using
his pen and tongue In denunciaton OF the Repubhcah
nsrty and in laudation OF the Democratic party No
honest Democrat to-day respect either the head or
the heart OF the black citizen who pretends TO De Dem
ocrat and urges other black men to support the Demo
cratic ticket Pointing to such man he naturally says
sWhy, that negro Is not Democrat lie Is only the
miserable tool Of Democrats. using his persuasive
movers to entice votes from the Repu blican party
Democrat thinks much better OF those colored men
who call themselves independents" He knows as well
as we know that their independence is fancifu DEUS
ion while they profess independence OF the Kepo
bcan party they are actually dependent upon the Dem
ocratc party and casting hungry eyes ththerwarn In
the hope OF getting something they have sought ana
have not found In the Republican party These men
may deceive themselves but they deceive those
from whom they secede and whom they cenounce, nor
those 70 whom they with honed words OF cohinehoa
ton They make the mistake OF finding bad motives lo'
all the good done by the Republican arty ana y
70 excuse all the bad things done Dy the DeHocr"o
Marty The intelligent Democrat may accept this serv-
lee but he is not blind to the character OF when IL Is
born The colored who say they have nothing 10
thank the Republican party for and brazenly proclaim
their ingratitude, inform the Democratic party In ad
vance that viii get thanks from them ior
umay DO I have strong desire 10 make new friends
but must be asked TO make them by railing accuse
tons against old ones.
I'll could 20 upon the stump. you have honored me
hv IN I yEoilld eueAyOr impress upon
the coored citizens OF the state OF SewYork the great
and paramount Importance Of Republican Victory III
that State this fall. would endeavor to snow them
victory would tend TO the promotion OF ther
For. disguise 1t may the welfare OF the
ooloed people North and south has not yet passed be
youd the line Of danger While the negro can be dragged
from railroad in the SOUTH for no fault but the color
Of his skin; while be sold into slavery on The
mere preence of crime while he can be doomed 10 "oA
In chain gangs while others only put IN prison ior
offences against the law; while he Is presumed "heh
accused TO he guilty until he prove his innocence
while he Ia subjected lynch law and the halter without
the pretence Judge jury advocate or legal accusers
while he is compelled TO work nominal and de-
faaded y store orders while he is deprived OF equal
means afforded all other classes and colOrs TOT INC
education OF his children and while Repubcan senate
passes a bill for such equal education and Democrauc
House OF Representatives votes down that measure o
enlightenment and craftsmanship; while he may be
driven from ballot and his vote goes unconnted
lit may DC safely said that the negro has cause ana
great cause, which will be favorably affected by Re
publican victory Ia New York and the Nation, and dsas
trously affected by a Democratic victory.
No coored man Is true to himself and to his cause
win allow himself 10 be diverted from 1t by any merely
hde political issues However worthy may be the ends
ought by parties. prohibition parties or other
parties the duty OF every colorcd man Is TO support
With all his might the party which thus far has done
most and is doing TO his rights liberty ana
manhood TO be respected. The colored man who does
not SOC this TO be his duty and allows himself to be used
~ tse tool OF the Democratic party shows himself to be
utterly blind to the highest welfare Of his people, or
Nnmgiy and Willingly sacrificing the interest OF the
"hoe 10 the personal interest Of few
FRED'K DOUGLASS
me oohDkSr TEMPERATURE EYER OBSERvED.